In 1921, U.S. Forest service Planner, Benton MacKaye wrote a magazine article suggesting a trail should be made to connect Mt. Washington (New Hampshire) with Mt. Mitchell (North Carolina). In response with this article in 1925, the Appalachian Trail Conference choose the path, flagged the path, built various sections, including shelters, bridges, and steps. Guidebooks to aid the hikers were even produced. And in 1968, congress passed the National Trails System Act, which made the A.T. (Appalachian Trail: commonly called by hikers) and the Pacific Crest Trail the first national scenic trails.
The Appalachian Trail is 2,168.8 miles long. It passes through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia! Some of the mountain ranges the Appalachian Trail runs through include the White, Green, Killington, Stratton, Berkshire, Kittatinny, and Appalachian mountain ranges. So far, the number of hike completions amounts 6,517. Although this was recorded on January 11th, 2002, and more completions come in almost daily.
Since there is litter in some places on this trail, hikers are urged to pick it up on their way through the trail. The Appalachian Trail Conferences suggests bringing a garbage bag for this purpose. The ATC (Appalachian Trail Conference) also encourages hikers to leave the trail in better shape the when found. |
